Right-Wing Media Outraged That Obama Hugged Leader Of NATO Ally

Right-wing media have expressed outrage over President Obama hugging Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the G-20 summit, claiming that Obama is "hugging enemies [and] abandoning allies." In fact, Turkey is an ally of the United States via its membership in NATO; moreover, this is just the latest example of the right-wing media's obsession with how Obama greets leaders.

Right-Wing Media Claim Obama Is "Hugging Enemies, Abandoning Allies"

Weekly Standard: "The Europeans Get A Handshake And The Islamist Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Gets A Hug." In a November 3 post on The Weekly Standard's website, Daniel Halper analyzed Obama's hugging of Erdogan and claimed: "The Europeans get a handshake and the Islamist Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan gets a hug. And all the president seems to have in mind is campaign politics and his reelection effort." [The Weekly Standard, 11/3/11]

In Fact, Turkey Is A NATO Ally Of The United States

U.S. State Department: Turkey Supports Operations Iraqi Freedom And Operation Enduring Freedom. The United States Department of State's website on Turkey provides a history of U.S.-Turkey relations. According to the State Department website, "Turkey allows the use of Incirlik Air Base for the transport of non-lethal cargo in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom." [U.S. State Department, accessed 11/4/11]

NATO: Turkey's Current Troop Contribution In Afghanistan Is 1,840. According to the Afghanistan International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) website, Turkey currently has 1,840 troops active in the NATO effort in Afghanistan. [ISAF, accessed 11/4/11]

NY Times: "U.S. Hails Deal With Turkey On Missile Shield."The New York Times reported on September 15 that the U.S. and Turkey had reached an agreement that allows for the U.S. to install a "sophisticated American radar system" in Turkey as part of the NATO missile defense shield designed to protect "Europe against a potential Iranian missile attack." The Times quoted a senior White House official who said, "This is probably the biggest strategic decision between the United States and Turkey in the past 15 or 20 years." [The New York Times, 9/15/11]